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H. S. HANSON AND C. NI. UPHAM.

GANG PLow.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, |9|0 HENEWED MAR 26; 1914. 1,314,870. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

' H. S. HNSON AND C. M. UPHAM.

GANG PLOW.

Y APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1910. RENEwED ma. 26. 1914. 1,314,870.

, Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'rms commun PLANDGRAPII co.. WASMINGTnN, D. c.

H.l S.' HANS'ON AND C. M. UPHAM.

, GANG PLow. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. l9l0. RENEWED MAR. 26

1,314,870. iintedsm 2,1919.

k J Y I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. S. HANSON AND C. M. UPHAM.

GANG PLow.

l APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. |910` RENEWED MAR. 26.1914.

1,314,870, PatentedSept. 2,1919.

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v rUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HE` BERT S. HANSON AND CHARLES M. UPHAM, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY

DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AVERY COMPANY, F PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Speciieationl of Letters Patent.

GANG-PLOW.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application led February 2, 1910, Serial No. 541,490. Renewed March V26, 1914. Serial No. 827,499.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT S. HANsoN and CHARLES M. UPHAM, citizens of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improveinents in Gang-Flows; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gang plowing mechanisms of the class in which each is self contained and adapted to be readily attached to and detached from a suitable tractor device.

The plowing mechanisms of this class, proposed prior to our invention, were usually of one or the other of two distinct types. Each of the mechanisms of one type comprised a frame, lowing units connected to the frame (usua ly trailing behind it), plow supports on the frame (usually heavy cantaliver devices projecting rearward therefrom above the units), and means connected to the units and engaging the supports for bodily lifting the units from the ground, `Each of the mechanisms of the other type comprised a frame, plowing units trailing behind the frame, ground wheels connected respectively to the units and serving to support them each independently of the others in fixed relation to the ground, and manual means whereby an operator standing on the platform could apply power to move the plowing units up and down relatively to the respective ground wheels as abutments.

Plows' of the first type were found to be seriously objectionable because of the great weight of the rearward projecting cantaliver supports and the necessary corresponding great weight of the main frame, because ofthe fact that the plowing units were so supported that they were not permitted to follow closely the irregularities of the ground, and because of other difficulties. Plowing mechanisms of the second type were found to be much superior to those of the first type, but they were nevertheless far from satisfactory because of the heavy manual labor required to raise and lower the plowing units, and because of the 'difficulty inc'ausing the plows to leave or enter the ground at the Same transverse line. During operation each plowing unit was locked with respect to its wheel and when the plows were to be raised it was necessary for a plowman (or sometimes two or three -plowmen) on the platform of the frame to rst unlock the units from the wheels and then by manual effort to bodily move the units upward with respect to the wheels.

By our invention we have provided a plowing mechanism having all of the' advantages incident to the plows of the sort comprising the second said group, and we have obviatcd thc disadvantages and di'iculties heretofore incident to plowing mechanisms of this sort. IVe have provided means under the control of the operator whereby mechanical power derived from a single unitary motive means, which is in its entirety mounted upon or secured to thc main frame, can be transmitted and applied to cause relative movement between the plowing units and the respective wheels thereby lifting the units with respect to the ground. Furthermore by our invention we provide for the lifting oi' lowering of the plows successively beginning with the foremost one, thus causing them to leave or enter the ground at the same transverse line.

The principal object of our invention is to provide ineans lwhereby the power of a unitary power mechanism can be transmitted to the ground wheels of the several plowing units to move them successively with rcspect to their units to cause the units to be lifted successively. Other objects are to provide certain improved structural features which will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan of a gang plow embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the ground wheel and associated parts for one of the plowing units. Fig. 3

is a side elevation of the gang plow shown y series ofthe parts illustrated in lFigs and V6. Fig.' 8 is a similarview showing one-of the members in a position intermediate the eXtreme positions shownin Figs. 'and 7 The frame or platform of the plow is indicated by the letter A, it being constructed of certain framing parts which are not shown since they.. areV not involved in theV present invention. As shown in Fig. 1 the frame 'is triangular in form and has draft devices B of any suitable form by means of which it can be detachably `connected to ay suitable tractor.` The frame is mounted jupon ground wheels C, there being one shown at Dat the rear, said'wheelsl being mounted in any suitable or preferred way.

The rear portion of the platform isinclined atl an angle to theline of advance, as in other machines of' this type, and at intervals thereon there'k are 'secured' Vrearwardly VeX- tending brackets E to each of whichl is pivotally attached a plowing unit comprising a plow beam F and a plow bodyl Gsecuredfto the rear thereof. Thereare also .brackets H, similar to the brackets E', to

which Ya supplemental beam J is pivoted, both beams'being connected at their Vrear Y ends in any suitable manner. 1 It will beseen Vthat bythis construction we have provided `Vfor each plowing unit a transverse horizontal pivotal connection to the main framel which is `fixed against vertical movement,

the unit being free to 4swing vertically in Y a fixedn path about the axis of the connecnection between the wheel and the beamy which we have shown and which is described below is selected merely for purposes of illustration and it will `be understood-that changes may be made as to the details. To the beams F and J, respectively, (see Fig.

'2.) are attachedbrackets K both forming4 guides Vfor two vertically disposed arms L :mounted at their lower ends on a ground lwheel M. Thesaid brackets serve to hold the standards L in vertical positions and to 'guide them for vertical movement.' Pivoted- Vto each standard Lis an arm or link N and between the upper ends ofthe links is mounted a vbell-crank lever'O, one arm of saidp'lever having pivotal attachment to the Vbeam F,

f through astandard P', `the other arm having Y or `reach Q'to berhereinafter described. Q

pivotal `connection with a ower transmitter It will be noted that' inFig. the plowing unitv is shown at its working depth and that thelever O is in a'rearward position.' If the-upper arm of the lever is moved forward to4 the positionl indicated.inlbrokenlines inV Fig. 3, the lower arm will be raised and at the saine time the arms N in which the lever is hung will move forward. Inasmuch as the plowing unit isv connected to theV lower arm of the lever O by means of the'standard l) Vtheresult is that the plowing unit is lifted from the ground. As long as the upper arm of said lever O is held in its forward posi- Y tionthe plow will be sustained in the raised position. Mounted upon oriat' least connected to the frame of the plow is a power mechanism which controls `the'plowing units by `means of the ground wheels and the connectionstherewith which have been "described. By preference 'we employ a shaft R which lies at right angles to the line of advance,and inthe present Vinstance Vit 'lies parallel to the front line of the frame. Upon one-end ofthe shaft is mounted a sleeve S, F igsft, 7 and 8, bored so as to be slipped 'upon the shaft. The sleeve mayV turn freely on the shaft, orthe sleeve and f `the shaft may revolve together the latter merely acting as a support for thesleeve and for other similar parts now to be described.V

The sleeve carries and is driven by a wormj wheel S" and is provided at its `extremity with an "extension or' lugT," shown in the,

figures named, and'in cross section in Figs. 5 and 6. length and is in the formk of a`I quadrant equal inarea to one-fourth of the cross sec-` tional area of said sleeve.` "Adjacentto thisV sleeve is a similar 'sleeve U. also loose o-n the said lug T is adapted to engage (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7). The lug W of the sleeve U is likewise adapted to engage the'lu'g X ofga similar loose sleeve 2 which hasat its oppoV` site end a` correspondinglyv placed lug 8' adapted to engage a similar lug "on still another sleeve Y, there being as many more This lug may beof any desired Y.

A shaft but provided at one end' with 'alugV v' and at the other with a lug `W bothrsimilar'v tof'saidlug T and withrthe first of which of the sleeves as there are plows to be operated. Upon' each of the sleeves are two fixed 'lugs 54 and 6 placed substantially diametrica-lly opposite one another, see Figs. 5 and 6. kUpon each sleeveV is rotatably' mounted what've shall term a'crank-arm'lv which lies between .the said lugs 5 and 6 and a journal-bearing Z shown in Fig. 1, the

several bearings'carryingthe sleeves. The

said ournal-bearings are not shown in Figs.

7` and S since they would tend tov confuse 1 and would hide some of the other parts. At each side of the train-ofsleeves and their arms and lying substantially'parallel to the shaft R is a stop, onebei'ng indicated 'at 8 and the other at'9, which receive and limit the movements of the arms'which are adapted to turn upon their respective sleeves through substantiall a 'half revolution, see the continuous and" roken lines inFigs. 'Z

and 8. At one side of each arm 7 is a pair of pawls indicated by 10 and 11 each pivoted between its ends and each having at one of its ends a friction roller 12 adapted to engage a member 13 secured to some stationary part of the plow frame beneath each sleeve of the series and directly beneath said rollers. The upper surfaces of the members 13 are substantially concentric with `the peripheries of the sleeves as shown and each has a flaring extension 14 at each end in order to lie in the path of the rollers. The adjacent ends of the pawls of each air are connected by a spring 15 whose tent ency at all times is to hold said ends toward the sleeve to which they lie adjacent. Any equivalent of this, however, may be otherwise placed in control of these ends of the pawls. Each of the arms 7 has attached to its extremity at the sides thereof links 16 as shown in broken lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4.-. These ylinks are curved or arched so as to reach over the sleeves and the journal-bearings, and they are attached at their rear ends to the power transmitters or reaches Q hereinbefore mentioned.

For driving the sleeve S and the various ower transmitting elements with which it is mechanically connected, we provide a suitable motive means connected with the main frame so as to be bodily fixed with respect thereto. The motive means is a unitary one and has its parts all connected together so as to be operable only in fixed predetermined relation to each other; and themotive means is so mounted on the frame that each of its parts is operable only in fixed predetermined relation thereto. By mounting all of the parts of the motive means on the frame in the way described we are enabled to avoid any variation in the action of the motive means or of the power transmitters arising from relative movements between the frame and other parts, such as the traction engine, upon which a motive means might be mounted.` Gang plows of this sort are frequently used on more or less rough and rolling land, and in such cases the positions of the plows `would be affected at each variation of the relative positions of the main frame and tractor if the motive meansl were to be mounted on the tractor. Furthermore, by providing a unitary motive means having Aall of its parts connected together so as to operate in fixed predetermined relationship we obtain a relatively simple construction and insure the operation of the several power transmitters in the exact predetermined relationship. This relationship cannot be varied, as it would be were the several transmitters to be o )erated by separate elastie fluid motors, t e opera-tion of which weuld depend upon the amount of pressure, the amount of leakage, the amount of friction, etc. One form of motive means which is convenient and satisfactory under many conditions is shown and described. Mounted upon the platform A is a motor of any desired type such, for instance, as a steam or gasolene engine or an electrically driven device. In the present instance we represent an engine 17 having a crank shaft 18 provided with a pinion 15,) to mesh with a gear 2O ou a counter shaft 21 mounted in suitable 'bearings and lying at right angles to the shaft 1iand its sleeves before mentioned. Said shaft is provided, if desired, with a clutch of any one of the usual forms, indicated at 22, by which the gear wheel 20, which may be loose upon the shaft, may be coupled to said shaft, when desired, in order to drive it. Other ways, however, of forming the driving connection may be used, although the engine may be started and stopped in lieu of using the clutch. The shaft besides carrying ythe clutch has a worm 9.3 to engage the under edge of theworm wheel S.

To desire to make it understood, however, that the motor may be made to drive some other form of gearing thanthat shown and described in order to transmit motion to the sleeve 3, the present form being merely a preferred one but it is the desire that no matter what form of gearing is used the motion imparted to the said sleeve shall be very slow as compared with that of the speed of the motor in order that the proper speed of revolution of the sleeve S and its companions will be definitely related to the speed of advance of the plow so that the intervals of time between the lifting of the several members of the latter will be correct. Since this speed of advance is practically uniform it is possible to so proportion the various gears that the proper lintervals of time can elapse between the raising or lowering of the several plowing units. The speed of advance of the gang being known it is a simple matter to provide gears of the proper size to cause the plows to be lifted successively at each fourteen inches of,ad vance, if that be the longitudinal distance between plow bodies.

When the parts are arranged substantially as described with the plow bodies at work in the ground as in Fig. 3 the arms 7 all lie at the rear of the shaft R and `upon the stop S as shown in Fig. 7. The end of the eld having been reached and the motor having previously been set in motion with the gear 20 ruiming free, the clutch 22 is thrown into gear just before the first plow reaches the margin of the field. This locks the gear 20 to its shaft 21 and starts the revolution of the worm wheel S and its sleeve S in a clockwise direction. The lug T of the sleeve which lies at the right side of the lug V of the sleeve U, as viewed in Fig. 7, must l now turn in the same direction until it meets the opposite or left side of the said lug V. The said sleeve U is now revolved until one of Vthe lugs 5, 6 (see Fig. 6) meets the pawl 11 whose spring-held end lies against the sleeve in thepath of said lug 5. In the continued motion the arm is lifted Vfrom its position shown in Figs. 3 and 7 and carried over to its other position upon the stop 9 as shown in Fig. 8. As the arm moves upward and forward its motion is transmitted through the power transmitter Q to the corresponding plowing unit and wheel, the unit being lifted by pressure exerted Vdownward on the wheel. As the arm approaches its rearward position 'the' friction roller 12 meets one of the extensions 14 of the member 13 and in following the curve thereof is moved nearer the sleeve U thus throwing its opposite end away from the sleeve and out of engagement with the said lug 5 or 6.

The'sleeve U is now free to turn on the shaft next arm to move it and its attached parts in the way above described. The time elapsing between the movements of the two arms equals the time it has taken to advance the Vplow last raised to substantially the point Vat which the first one was `cleared of the ground. The next action isto operate the Vsleeve 5 in thesame way and so on throughout the entire trainof sleeves and their arms 7 until all of the plowsof the gang have Y been raised, the several lugs T, V, W, X, etc.,

K- their rear ends to the bell-crank levers O by two links Q,Fig. 1,- while their` other ends are connected with the two links 16 before described and it is to be noted that the-points of connection of the links 16 with the ends of the arms 7'lie below the center or axis of revolution of the said arms so that the line of pull, which extends through said points and the pointsof connection of the links Q withthe bell-crank levers O will ber'below said center Vor axis kas indicated in the straight broken line in Fig; 5 and this serves as a positive lock for the plows in the raisedl position. The degree of separation of the links 16 is such that the pawls 10 and 11 clr the `lugs`5 and 6 will not be interfered wit y 'Afterthelast vplow has been raised the manner described the lapparatus is started Y back into the field, the motor having meanwhile been reversed, after having disen Y gaged the clutch, so that as the starting line pawl 10, which is always in position to receive, it 'when the arm 7 lies in the position shown in Fig. 5, and lifts saidarm until the line of pull from theV plow is carried above the aXisof revolution, of said arm. Having been thus releasedthe plowimmediately falls to its working position this` being possible since the arm 7 controllingV itr is free to turn upon its sleeve thus carrying the engaginggpawl 10 away from the lug 5, -6 which lifted it. In turning, the arm carries .ther pawl 10 with it and the roller 12 thereof immediately engages theY member-.13 thus moving said` pawl out of the path-of the lugs 5, 6. lDuring this time the entire apparatus has advanced until the point of the next plow reaches the proper position to be dropped and the sleeve U has turned far enough to engage the lug X of the sleeve 2 by its lug `V and subthe same way asV before-so that its plow is also dropped lat the proper place. In this I way the plows are dropped in successive order at regular intervals at the starting line, untilv all are at work.

The shaft R plays Vno part in the operation of the mechanism whatever but serves merely to carry the sleeves and it is possible to use se'quently raises the arm 7 ofY that sleeve in Y Y other forms of structures so as to eliminate f it entirely as, for example, by merely ex- Y tendingthe journal-bearings 2 so as to provide a perfect support throughout the greater part of the length'of said sleeves.

Furthermore, the bearings and the partssupported thereby could be carried on some support or framing other than the platform A so long as Vsuch support or framing is Y .115

fixed relative to the platform.

Each` of the reaches Q, 16, is'rigid throughl* out its length or between the points of-.connection with the crank-arm V7 and arm O, and as the parts 16 are curve'd they permit the point of connection with the arm 7 to drop below the axis'of the shaft R to form the lock as previously stated and this said part 16 may act as a limiting stop in one direction in lieu of the part 9 described, by resting upon the sleeve V, for instance.v v

We are aware that it has heretofore been proposed to provide for the uniform successive lifting of a plurality of plow units by means of power appliedto the ground wheels which support ,the units, but inthe earlier devices with which we areA familiar reliance was placed upon a plurality of independent motors, one for each plow and the eort was to so control these motors that they would operate one after another in succession to move the ground wheels downward and thereby lift the plows. But there are serious objections to a plurality of motors, as there is no assurance that they will operate at uniform intervals and at uniform speeds. One motor may be more efiicient than another or may have less friction, or may be put inte operation a little sooner or a little later than the others, and thus disturb the proper timed relationship of the lifting. By our invention we have connected all of the unit supporting wheels to a single power mechanism and have interposed a power transmitting system which is such that the power of the motive means is applied successively at fixed uniform intervals to move the wheels and effect the lifting.

Ve herein refer to the power generating device as a motor but do not limit ourselves to a gasolene motor ofthe form shown, as other motors for operating plow beams have been heretofore known, such as steam cylinders and pistons, and traction wheels below the draft frame.

We also refer to prime ypower devices, these being typified in the construction shown and described by the rotary crank arms 7 but in lieu 4of which, as will be understood, any suitable means canbe used interposed between the motor element and the transmitting devices, such as the reaches or links Q, which actuate the devices that A lift the plowing unit (beam and plow body) from the ground.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. The combination of a draft frame detachably and flexibly connectible with a tractor, trailing plowing units having at their front ends vertically fixed transversehorizontal pivotal connections with the frame, vertically adjustable ground wheels normally free to move in the beam lifting direction, a unitary power mechanism having all of its parts operable only in fixed predetermined relation to each other and to `the frame, and mutually independent uniformly speeded power transmitting trains acting in uniform succession and connecting the said unitary power mechanism with the several adjustable ground wheels respectively to move them successively with respect to their units, thereby successively lifting the said units upon their ground wheels.

2. The combination of a draft frame detachably and flexibly connectible with a tracvertically adjustable ground wheels normally free to move in the beam lifting directlon, a unitary power mechanism having all of its parts operable only in fixed predetermined relation to each other and to the frame, and mutually independent uniformly speeded power transmitting trains connecting the said unitary power mechanism with the several adjustable ground wheels respectively and acting in uniform succession first to move them successively downward with respect to their units and then to release them to permit them to move successively upward with respect to their units, thereby successively lifting the said units upon their ground wheels and then successively lowering them.

3. The' combination of a draft frame detachably and flexibly connectible with a tractor, a diagonal series of trailing plowing units having at their front ends vertically fixed transverse horizontal pivotal connections with'the frame, vertically adjustable ground wheels normally free to move in the beam lifting direction, a unitary power mechanism having all of its parts operable only in fixed predetermined relation to each other and to the frame, power transmitting devices connected with the several adjustable ground wheels respectively to move them downward with respect to their units, and means actuated by the said unitary power mechanism for actuating the said devices successively beginning with the one for the foremost unit to lift the units successively and for releasing the said devices successively beginning with the one for the foremostunit to drop the units successively.

4. The combination of a draft frame detachably and flexibly connectible to a tractor, trailing plowing units having at their front ends vertically fixed transverse horizontal pivotal connections with the fralne, adjustable ground wheels normally free to move in the beam lifting direction, and a mechanism comprising a power means having all of its parts operable only in fixed predetermined relation to the frame and a series of mutually independent uniformly speeded power transmitting trains actuated by the power means and connected respectively to the plowing units and the wheels to lift the units by pressing down on the wheels, the said mechanism comp-rising automatically acting means supplemental to the motive means for locking the power transmitting trains in position to cause the units vto be held in lifted positions.

5. The combination of a draft frame detachably and flexibly connectible to a tractor, trailing plow units vertically ixedly pivoted at their front ends to the frame for vertical movement, ground wheels vertically movably connected respectively to the units and normally free to move in the beam liftingV direction, a power` mechanism on the frame, and mutually independent mechanical power transmitting devices connected respectively for transmitting power from the said power mechanism to the said wheels and plowing' units to effect relative movements 'and thereby lift the units with `respect to the ground, each of the saidV connections serving 'independently ofthe others to definitely nections with the frame, ground wheels upon `which the plowing Vunits are supported and which are normally free to move in the beam f lifting' direction power Vtransmitters indeare locked against retrograde movement thereby holding the units in lifted positions.

. spectively to the said wheels and plowing units toV lift the units by pressing down on l the last'said direction, and means for lautoyf115 matically disengaging the cooperating dependent of each' other and connected respectively tothe said wheels and plowing 'units to lift the unitsv by pressing down on the wheels, meansV on the frame comprising a plurality of rotatable eccentric arms, means under the control of theplowman for turning the arms each through a part of a revolution, and devices connected with the said power transmitters and engaging respectively with the said'n eccentric arms whereby ,when the arms are turned the transmitters are actuated to Ycause the plowing units to be lifted and whereby at the end of the said part of a revolution the transmitters 7. The combination of a draft frame dektachably conectible toay tractor, trailing plowing units having at their front ends vertically fixed transverse horizontalpivotal connections with the frame, ground Vwheels upon which the plowing units are normally carried respectively in fixed relation to the y ground but with respect to whi'chthey are vertically adjustable, power transmitters independent of eachother and connected rethe wheels, means on the frameV comprising a plurality of rotatable eccentric arms, means under the control of the plowmanforturning the arms each through a part of a revo` lutiOn, and devices connecting the said power transmitters respectively with' the said ecthe plowing units to be lifted and whereby at the end of the said part of a revolution v the transmitters are positioned so that the line of tension has been moved to the axis of rotation of the arms, the transmitters being thereby locked against retrograde movement thus holding the units in lifted positions.

8. The combination of a wheeledl draftV of arevolutioii in either directiommeans for automatically disengaging the said coperatving means at the limits of movement of the f arms, and reaches connecting the arms re-V spectively with theplowing units and the ground wheels to lift the units by means of Y.35

Vthewheels, the said reaches at theends connected with the arms each havinga portion curved around the said rotating member beyond-a line extending between'its Vpoints of attachment with 'the described parts. f y90 y 9. The combination" with a iframe" and plowing units fiXedly pivoted at their front ends thereto for free vertical movement, of

Vground wheels vertically movably connected respectively to the units and normally carrying'them in fixed i. relation to the ground,

rocking members mounted on the frame,

-tions of movement being adapted to carry Y the' point of connection of the corresponding reach .therewith over and. beyond the .axisl Yi io whereby a' line drawn through both the connecting points'of said reach willV be carried through andbeyond the saidv axis, stops for limiting the movement of the members in vices.

10. The combination of a wheeled draft jframe, plowing units lixedly pivoted at their front ends to the frame for free vertical 120 movement, ground wheels vertically mov- `ably connected respectively to the units and normally carrying them in fixed relation to the ground, rocking-arms having a common axis of movement upon the said frame, 125 reaches each connected at one end with one of the arms and each having at thel other end control of the relative movement of one of the wheels with respect to the plowing unit, a rotatable power driven member'con- 130 trolling the arms, and pairs of devices on the said member and the said arms adapted to automatically engage one another on the rotation of said rotatable member in one direction to cause the raising of the said plowing units and on the rotation of the said rotatable member in the other direction to cause the lowering of the said plowing units.

11. In a plowing mechanism, the combination of a frame, a series of successively acting prime power devices on the frame, a shaft on the frame extending continuously from end to end of said series and rotating from one of its endsto the other when in action, means rotatable concentrically with the shaft for successively connecting its several successive parts, while all of said parts are rotating, to the several prime power devices, a motor carried Iby the frame in fixed relation to the said shaft, a series of plow units respectively hinged to the frame and each supported on ground engaging devices independently of the others and of the vframe, a series of beam lifting devices mounted on said beams respectively, and a connecting device between each of said prime K ower devices and one of the said beam ifting devices.

12. In a plowing mechanism, the combination of a frame, a series of successively acting rotary prime power devices on the frame, a shaft at the axis of, and passing through, allof said prime power devices, said shaft being rotatable either independently of, or in connection with, all of said power devices, a series of plow units hinged directly to said frame, a series of independent plow lifting devices respectively mount ed on the beams of said units, and means connecting each of said prime power devices with one of said'unit lifting devices on the beams.

13. The combination of the frame, a series of rotatable cranks mounted on the frame, a series of plow' units hinged to the frame, a series of beam lifting devices respectively mounted on the beams of the said plow units and permanently connected respectively to the said cranks, an integral shaft mounted at the axis of the cranks and extending continuously from end to end of said series and rotatable at option either independently of all the cranks of said series, or in engagement therewith a motor on the frame, and devices for transmitting power at option from the motor to the said cranks to actuate the lifting' devices mounted on the beams respectively.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT S. HANSON. CHARLES M. UPHAM. IVitnesses:

L. W. THURLow, E. J. AnnsoL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.. 

